With more and more students being forced into self-isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic and localised outbreaks, the chances are that you’re wondering how you’re going to fill your time if you’re put in the same boat. Perhaps the idea of being locked in a room for a couple of weeks is your idea of heaven - or maybe you’re concerned that you’re going to feel bored and lonely? Either way, we’ve rounded up a few ideas to keep you occupied when isolating.
Let’s start with one of the most obvious ones: catching up with your friends and family over Zoom or FaceTime is a great way to break up your day and have some social interaction. It’s easy to feel like you’re on your own when you’re away from home - and perhaps yet to make any uni friends - so reach out to your nearest and dearest and have a good old chin-wag. If you’ve exhausted every conversation, play fun games like Charades or Would You Rather?
Next up, consider catching up on university work - or getting ahead. We’re only a month or two in the semester, so the chances are that you’ll be getting to grips with new theories and concepts. Once you’ve finished your lectures, make notes, delve into the supplementary reading, and speak to classmates. It might be boring, but the more work you put in now, the more time you’ll have to spend in the Students Union when you’re allowed outside!
Share your passions with the world by starting your own blog or YouTube channel during isolation. Whether you’re into beauty, celebrities, or even miniature trains, it’s easy to create content and build an audience if you’re good at what you do. Plus, writing blog posts and filming videos won’t do you any harm; you’ll improve your written and oral skills and can add them to your CV. Businesses are always looking for graduates with marketing prowess.
Head on over to Steam and treat yourself to an exciting game or two - there are always deals to be had if you look in the right places. From popular new titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Football Manager 2021 through to classics like SIMS 4 and RuneScape, you can immerse yourself into a whole new world, and make friends in the process. If you really want to get in on the action, you could even buy a pair of virtual reality goggles and fight zombies!
Though some students living in halls have to have their meals delivered during isolation, if you’re living in a shared house with others, you should be able to spend some time in the kitchen. Arrange a supermarket delivery and bake until your heart’s content - from cookies and cakes to pizzas and pies, there are so many recipes and YouTube tutorials to follow.
Tired of uni work? Try a different kind of book. Popular titles this season include Jojo Moyes' The Giver of Stars, Bernardine Evaristo's Girl, Woman, Other, and Candice Carty-Williams's Queenie. If you’re into your celebrities, Ant & Dec and Philip Schofield have both released autobiographies recently, and Audible offers a one-month free trial if you prefer audiobooks.
If all else fails, open Netflix or Amazon Prime and try out a new boxset. Away, Rachted, Travels With My Father are some of the most popular shows on Netflix right now, whilst Amazon Prime offers The Walking Dead: World Beyond, The Grand Tour, and Dating Amber. In the podcast world, why not try Sh**ged Married Annoyed featuring Chris and Rosie Ramsey, No Such Thing As A Fish, Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe's Lockdown Parenting Hell, Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster, or Casefile True Crime?
What have you got planned during isolation? Let us know on Facebook and check back soon for more tips and tricks on living your best student life, right here at Billing Better.
